Log in

Sign up

name

email

short text about yourself

password

re-type password

I hereby consent to the processing of my personal data for the purposes, to the extent and under the conditions stated in the Privacy Policy of the website https://www.criticaldaily.org/, which I confirm to have thoroughly read and understood prior to giving this consent.

Project Cactus network

Networks and creative collaboration make the design community sustainable

Katarína Balážiková 75 325cm

Cactus network was founded in 1989 by Glen Orton and Tony Credland and was one of the first open networks of artists, writers and designers exchanging ideas and work on social issues. It was one of the best alternative international networks of creative activists that was organized offline - without the internet. The production and distribution was also offline, avoiding the usual distribution channels, using mailart techniques, DIY aesthetics, using classic or low budget print techniques.

Cactus as a communication network produced many collections of work from around the globe every six months. It was a non-profit project presenting an opportunity for the exchange of ideas across a range of cultures, retaining a non-selective policy enabling people to disseminate their views unedited. The network relied on the co-operation of all the participants, based on mutual communication rather than self-promotion.

They have been very active and were distributing magazines, organized many collaborative projects such as Cactus magazine – inspired by mailart, Debate project – a poster set and discussion looking at the collision of politics and graphic design, Feeding squirrels to the nuts – a magazine consisting of ten A3 posters produced by a forum of international designers and critics.